Acute Pancreatitis Severe

Expert Surgical & Critical Care for Life-Threatening Pancreatic Inflammation

Overview

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. While many cases are mild and resolve with supportive care, severe acute pancreatitis can be life-threatening. It can lead to organ failure, infected pancreatic necrosis, and multi-system complications.

What Is Severe Acute Pancreatitis?

Severe acute pancreatitis is defined by:

• Organ failure that lasts more than 48 hours
• Development of pancreatic necrosis (dead tissue)
• Risk of infection, sepsis, or multi-organ dysfunction

This condition requires intensive hospital care, often in the ICU, and may involve a multi-disciplinary approach involving surgeons, intensivists, radiologists, and gastroenterologists.

Common Causes

• Gallstones (most common cause in India)
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• High triglyceride levels
• Medications or toxins
• Pancreatic trauma or ERCP procedure-related
• Genetic or autoimmune factors

Symptoms

Symptoms are typically sudden and severe:

• Severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back
• Persistent vomiting and nausea
• Fever and chills
• Abdominal bloating
• Jaundice (if bile duct is involved)
• Signs of shock – low BP, fast heart rate, confusion

Complications

If not managed promptly, severe acute pancreatitis can lead to:

• Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)
• Acute kidney injury
• Respiratory distress / ARDS
• Pancreatic fluid collections or pseudocysts
• Infected necrosis or abscesses
• Multi-organ failure

Diagnosis

• Blood Tests – Amylase, Lipase, Liver function, CRP
• Ultrasound – To check for gallstones or duct blockage
• Contrast-enhanced CT Scan – Gold standard for grading severity and identifying necrosis or collections
• MRI / MRCP – To assess pancreatic and biliary ducts
• ICU monitoring – For systemic complications

Why Choose Us?

• 30+ years of GI surgery and pancreatic disease expertise
• Director of Robotic Surgery & Liver Transplantation
• MCh (GI Surgery) from AIIMS New Delhi
• Pioneering role in robotic pancreatic surgery in India
• Round-the-clock ICU support and interventional radiology
• Multidisciplinary team for holistic recovery

Early Care Saves Lives

Severe acute pancreatitis is a surgical emergency. Timely intervention by an experienced team significantly improves outcomes.